Lian Li Releases Innovative PC-A51 Chassis

Lian Li is no stranger to PC chassis enthusiasts. With a reputation for innovative design and impeccable quality, the company is one of the most respected in the PC chassis market.

The company is set to further enhance its already impressive reputation with its brand new PC-A51 chassis.

Constructed out of Lian Li’s trademark brushed aluminum, the PC-A51 features an innovative “reverse airflow design.” Conventional design has airflow entering a PC chassis from the front and exiting at the rear and top. In contrast, the PC-A51 is designed to have the airflow enter through a filtered 120mm fan opening at the rear and have the hot air exit through a 140mm fan mounted above the front-mounted PSU.

The PC-A51 also has one more additional fan mount on the chassis’ floor, where the end-user can install either a 120mm or a 140mm fan.

A final note about the PC-A51’s cooling options: The roof panel can be removed sans tools so that a 240mm/280mm radiator can be mounted.

The innovations aren’t just in the realm of cooling. The PC-A51 has a new versatile HDD/SSD mounting system built-in. As Lian Li describes it, the new system “allows DIY builders to mount either a 3.5″ or 2.5″ drive on the five individually removable hard drive bays.” Also, “(f)or more versatility, if the bays are removed, up to three 2.5″ drives can be mounted directly onto the tray – freeing up space and helping to increase airflow” within the case interior. The back surface of the motherboard tray can also host an additional 2.5″ drive as well.

Now, as far as the PC-A51’s prosaic yet salient features, it lacks for nothing as far as practicality and usability are concerned. It has seven PCI expansion slots. It also accommodates a single 5.25″ optical drive (covered up by a classy “stealth” panel, so that its presence on the front panel isn’t so obtrusive). As far as motherboard support goes, it can host ATX and mATX boards. Graphics cards up to a maximum length of 400mm can fit without issues; as far as tower-style CPU coolers are concerned, heat sinks up to 175mm high are supported. Finally, the I/O cluster has four USB 3.0 ports and the usual HD audio out/mic in jacks.

The PC-A51 comes in three different versions, all with different MSRPs. The PC-A51A/PC-A51B (silver/black, respectively) is priced at $149.00, while the PC-A51WX (black + windowed side panel) is at $189.00. These two versions will be available in North America at the end of this month. The PC-A51WRX (red and black + windowed side panel) is priced at $199.00 and will be available at the end of April.

http://techgage.com/ Rob Williams

That drive bay design is fantastic. I’m not so sure I’d want my PSU near the -front- of my chassis, but whatever works I guess.